Cantilevered modular building structures



June 21, 1966 c. w. KALLMAN CANTILEVERED MODULAR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 22, 1963 INVENTOR.

CHHQLESW/(ALLMH Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 21, 1966 c. w. KALLMAN 3,256,651

CANTILEVERED MODULAR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 22, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR. CHAQLE'SWKA Luv w BY W June 21, 1966 c. w. KALLMAN CANTILEVERED MODULAR BUILDING STRUCTURES Filed Jan. 22, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR CHA QLE5WKALMAN United States Patent C) 3,256,651 CANTILEVERED MODULAR BUILDING STRUCTURES Charles W. Kallman, Fort Lee, NJ., assignor to Modulbilt Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 253,224 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-73) This invention relates generally to building structures, and more particularly to a multiple purpose structural unit of modulator design which may be quickly erected or dismantled, and which may be combined with other units to form building complexes in a variety of configurations.

Conventional building structures, whether of the wood or metal frame type, or of brick or stone construction, are erected by elaborate and costly procedures entailing the digging of foundations, the setting up of the frame components, and the construction of interior and exterior walls. Despite technological advances which have streamlinedproduction methods in other fields, and the availability of many new structural materials, basic building techniques have in many respects remained backward and inefficient.

To expedite the erection of structures, attempts have been made to prefabricate sections of the building at the factory and thereby simplify the work to be performed at the site. However, whether on-site or prefabrication methods are used, the division of interior space is generally predetermined by the basic structural design which dictates the wall arrangements.

Also, once the building is put up it cannot readily be dismantled or shifted to a new site. Nor is it ordinarily possible to expand the size of the building without a basic reworking of its design. Thus conventional structures are largely inflexible with regard to their location, the use to be made of their interior space, and their ultimate size and appearance.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a structural unit of modular design which may be quickly and efiiciently erected and whose interior space is flexible and open to partitioning at the users option.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a multiplepurpose modular structural unit of the above type which may be combined with other units in a variety of configurations to define building complexes.

A further object of the invention isto provide a modular structural unit which is dernountable at will for transfer to another site and which is easily transported by trailer trucks or air lifts.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a modular structure which may be erected by relatively unskilled personnel, all basic components of the building being contained in a complete package which may be brought without technical know-how as an oiT-the-shelf item.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a structure capable of withstanding high gale winds, air blasts and earth movements, and yet one which is easily decontaminated after an atomic explosion.

Briefly stated, these objects are accomplished in a structural unit wherein a rectangular housing is supported above ground by a pair of anchored pylons disposed centrally at either end thereof, each pylon including a pair of spaced columns on which is mounted a horizontal beam to form a 1r frame section from which the floor of the housing is suspended, the roof of the housing being supported from a second 1r frame section seated on the first section and having a pair of columns in vertical alignment with those of the pylon, the housing being enclosed by a curtain wall constituted by an array of panels extending between the roof and floor of the housing, some of which panels are formed of glass to provide windows.

Patented June 21, 1966 ice For a better understanding of the invention, as well as other objects and other features thereof, reference is made to the following detailed description to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a modular structural unit in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 1A is a ground plan of the building;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by lines 22 in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by lines 33 in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken in the plane indicated by lines 44 in FIG. 1A; and

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by lines 55 in FIG. 1A.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a one-story modular structure in accordance with the invention, the structure comprising a rectangular, box-like housing, generally designated by numeral 10, supported above ground by a pair of anchored pylons 11 and 12 positioned at either end of the housing. The area under the housing may serve as a parking space, but it is to be understood that this area may also be closed in to provide a two-story structure.

The structural system, as will be explained in detail, is composed of steel girders, joists, bracing and columns, with the floor and roof of bar joist construction. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, pylons 11 and 12 are mounted on foundation slabs 13 and 14, respectively, the pylons having a rectangular configuration defined by the corner girders or columns. The frame of each pylon is constituted by four steel girders 15 at the corners of a rectangle, attached to the two slabs or directly to permafrost, the frame being braced by cables 16, as shown in FIG. 4.

The basic support for the structure, as shown in FIG. 5, is constituted by the end girders 15 of the pylon, on top of which is mounted a horizontal beam B thereby forming a it frame section for supporting a floor. A second 1r frame section is formed by girders 15A mounted on beam B in line with the pylon girders 15, the girders 15A supporting a second horizontal beam B for the roof. The inner pylon columns 15, as shown in FIG. 2, are also provided with a beam B forming a 1r section for floor support.

The fioor of the structure includes an open-web steel truss 17 above which is a floor surface 18, which may take the form of resilient tiles. The underside 19 of the floor may be in the form of asbestos board or other fireproof material, and a layer 20 of suitable thermal insulation may be installed in the space between the truss 17 and the underboard 19. v

The roof includes an open-web steel truss 22 below which is hung a ceiling 23. This ceiling may be composed of sandwich panels decoratively treated and adapted to act both as thermal insulation and as a sound barrier,'as well as to alford fire protection. The panels may be of the slip-on type going directly onto bar joists. Roof 24 may be constituted by steel planking, fibreboard insulation, and a one-piece envelope cover, or a built-up tar and gravel roof may be used.

The space within pylon 11 serves as a well for stairs 25 leading from an access door 26 to the first floor. The floor 27 of pylon 11 may be suitably tiled and the pylon may be walled with metal panels 28. The space within pylon 12 serves for mechanical purposes, and in this space, heating systems, water pumps and whatever other mechanical equipment is required for the building, may be installed. The space directly above the mechanical space is reserved for toilet facilities 29, a toilet compartment being formed by partition 30. The toilet compartment is vented by an air vent 31 extending through the roof.

The curtain walls of the structure are constituted by a series of metal panels 32 having identical dimensions, each panel being composed of an upper section 32A which is attachable to the edge of the roof of the structure, a lower section 32B which is attachable to the edge of the floor, and an intermediate section 32C which extends between the floor and the ceiling, thereby completing the curtain. Sections 32A and 32B are formed by opaque panels preferably constituted by insulated metallic sand.- wiches, Whereas the mid-sections may either be insulated metal panels, or formed of glass. The choice of glass or of opaque material for the mid-sections of the panels is determined in part by aesthetic considerations and in part by how the open space within the structure is divided.

It is to be noted that the structural design is such that apart from the toilet partition area, the space within the structure is completely free and it therefore becomes possible to set up partitions and divide the area into useable rooms in any desired fashion.

It will be obvious that the basic simplicity of the building makes easy installation possible, and the double 1r structural frame section imparts a basic strength and reliability to the structure, and yet makes it possible to dismantle the same quickly. The individual units may be combined in various ways to form structural complexes. Thus several units may be placed in end-to-end or side-by-side relation, or formed in a quadrangle about an open court. In this way, installations may be expanded, as desired, and the basic units may be arranged to form motels, hospitals, schools, banks, and the like, and even to provide low-cost military housing which may be quickly erected and dismantled.

The basic stability of the structure lends itself to use as stable platforms for electronic equipment, such as dataprocessing systems. All space within the housing is open and flexible to partitioning at the users option, and all interior facilities, lighting and telephones may be located and relocated as the need therefor changes.

While there has been shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be appreciated that many changes may be made therein without departing from the essential spirit of the invention, as defined in the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A modular building structure comprising a rectangular housing having a :roof and a floor, a pair of plyons having a rectangular section for supporting said housing above ground and disposed centrally at either end of said housing, said pylons each including a pair of spaced and anchored corner columns disposed adjacent the edge of said housing, a first 11' frame section incorporating said pair of columns and a horizontal beam thereacross for supporting a respective end of said floor, a second 71' frame section seated above said first section and including a second pair of columns in vertical alignment with said first pair thereof, and a second horizontal beam for supporting a respective end of said roof, trusses extending between said horizontal beams for providing support for said floor and said roof, and a curtain wall suspended from said roof and extending to said floor, one of said pylons containing stair means providing access to said housing, the other pylon providing mechanical space.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, further including toilet facilities in said housing directly above the mechanical space in said other pylon.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland.

OTHER REFERENCES Architectural Record, March 1943, pp. 46, 47.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

HENRY C. SUTHERLAND, Examiner.

M. O. WARNECKE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MODULAR BUILDING STRUCTURE COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR HOUSING HAVING A ROOF AND A FLOOR, A PAIR OF PLYONS HAVING A RECTANGULAR SECTION FOR SUPPORTING SAID HOUSING ABOVE GROUND AND DISPOSED CENTRALLY AT EITHER END OF SAID HOUSING, SAID PYLONS EACH INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED AND ANCHORED CORNER COLUMNS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE EDGE OF SAID HOUSING, A FIRST $ FRAME SECTION INCORPORATING SAID PAIR OF COLUMNS AND A HORIZONTAL BEAM THEREACROSS FOR SUPPORTING A RESPECTIVE END OF SAID FLOOR, A SECOND $ FRAME SECTION SEATED ABOVE SAID FIRST SECTION AND INCLUDING A SECOND PAIR OF COLUMNS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST PAIR THEREOF, AND A SECOND HORIZONTAL BEAM FOR SUPPORTING A RESPECTIVE END OF SAID ROOF, TRUSES EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID HORIZONTAL BEAM FOR PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR 